Bleacher Report

NFL Standings 2024-25: Week 16 Records, Playoff Bracket Scenarios, Wild Card Picture

Jake Rill

After a Week 15 slate during which three more NFL teams punched their tickets to the playoffs, half of the 14-team postseason field is now set. Seven spots remain up for grabs heading into Week 16, with only three weeks to go in the regular season.

In the AFC, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans each clinched playoff berths this past week. The Texans also clinched the AFC South title, as it's now mathematically impossible for the Indianapolis Colts to ascend to the top of the division.

In the NFC, the Minnesota Vikings clinched a playoff berth. However, they remain in a heated battle with both the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers at the top of the NFC North standings.

More teams could clinch during the upcoming Week 16 action. Here's a look at the current NFL standings, followed by the playoff picture for both conferences.

Current NFL Standings

Nic Antaya/Getty Images

AFC East

Buffalo Bills (11-3, clinched AFC East)

Miami Dolphins (6-8)

New York Jets (4-10, eliminated from playoff contention)

New England Patriots (3-11, eliminated from playoff contention)

AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4, clinched playoff berth)

Baltimore Ravens (9-5)

Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)

Cleveland Browns (3-11, eliminated from playoff contention)

AFC South

Houston Texans (9-5, clinched AFC South)

Indianapolis Colts (6-8)

Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11, eliminated from playoff contention)

Tennessee Titans (3-11, eliminated from playoff contention)

AFC West

Kansas City Chiefs (13-1, clinched AFC West)

Denver Broncos (9-5)

Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)

Las Vegas Raiders (2-12, eliminated from playoff contention)

NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles (12-2, clinched playoff berth)

Washington Commanders (9-5)

Dallas Cowboys (6-8)

New York Giants (2-12, eliminated from playoff contention)

NFC North

Detroit Lions (12-2, clinched playoff berth)

Minnesota Vikings (12-2, clinched playoff berth)

Green Bay Packers (10-4)

Chicago Bears (4-10, eliminated from playoff contention)

NFC South

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)

Atlanta Falcons (7-7)

New Orleans Saints (5-9)

Carolina Panthers (3-11, eliminated from playoff contention)

NFC West

Los Angeles Rams (8-6)

Seattle Seahawks (8-6)

Arizona Cardinals (7-7)

San Francisco 49ers (6-8)

AFC Playoff Picture, Clinching Scenarios

G Fiume/Getty Images

Bye: No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)

No. 2 Buffalo Bills (11-3) vs. No. 7 Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)

No. 3 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) vs. No. 6 Denver Broncos (9-5)

No. 4 Houston Texans (9-5) vs. No. 5 Baltimore Ravens (9-5)

In the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (6-8), Miami Dolphins (6-8), Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)

The AFC playoff field could already be nearly set by the end of Week 16. The Ravens, Broncos and Chargers will all have opportunities to clinch berths this upcoming weekend.

Baltimore and Denver can each clinch without needing any help. The Ravens will secure their playoff berth with either a win or a tie vs. the Steelers on Saturday. The Broncos can do the same with either a win or a tie vs. the Chargers on Thursday.

Both of those teams could also still clinch with losses. Baltimore can get in with losses/ties by both Miami (vs. San Francisco) and Indianapolis (vs. Tennessee). Denver can clinch with losses/ties by Miami, Indianapolis and Cincinnati (vs. Cleveland).

The Chargers can clinch a playoff berth in Week 16, but they will need help. They need to beat the Broncos on Thursday and get losses from both the Dolphins and Colts. If Los Angeles plays to a tie, it can still clinch with losses by both Miami and Indianapolis as well as a loss/tie by Cincinnati.

The AFC North race could also be wrapped up this week. However, the only way the Steelers can clinch the division title is with a win over the Ravens on Saturday. It would be the first time that Pittsburgh has won the AFC North since the 2020 season.

The Chiefs have an opportunity to secure the AFC's No. 1 seed this week. They can clinch the first-round bye with a win over the Texans on Saturday and a Bills loss/tie vs. the Patriots on Sunday. Kansas City would also clinch with a tie and a Buffalo loss.

NFC Playoff Picture, Scenarios

Jane Gershovich/Getty Images

Bye: No. 1 Detroit Lions (12-2)

No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (12-2) vs. No. 7 Washington Commanders (9-5)

No. 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6) vs. No. 6 Green Bay Packers (10-4)

No. 4 Los Angeles Rams (8-6) vs. No. 5 Minnesota Vikings (12-2)

In the hunt: Seattle Seahawks (8-6), Atlanta Falcons (7-7), Arizona Cardinals (7-7), San Francisco 49ers (6-8), Dallas Cowboys (6-8), New Orleans Saints (5-9)

The NFC East race could be over by Sunday, when the Eagles will go on the road to face the Commanders. Philadelphia can clinch the division title with a win or if the two teams tie.

The only way that Washington can still win the NFC East is by winning each of its final three games and having Philadelphia lose each of its final three contests.

A Commanders win would not only keep them alive in the division race, but it could also help them clinch a playoff berth. Washington can secure a spot with a victory, a loss/tie by Atlanta (vs. the Giants) and a loss/tie by either Los Angeles (at the Jets) or Seattle (vs. Minnesota).

There are also a couple of scenarios in which the Commanders could clinch a playoff berth with a tie, but they would then need more help from other teams.

The Packers have a chance to clinch a playoff berth in Week 16 as well. They don't need any help to do so, as a win/tie vs. the Saints on Monday night would punch their ticket.

Green Bay could clinch before then, though, if there are losses by Atlanta and either Los Angeles or Seattle.

Neither the NFC South nor the NFC West can be decided this week. The Buccaneers hold a slim lead over the Falcons in the former, while the Rams and Seahawks have identical records with the Cardinals and 49ers remaining in the picture for the latter.

   

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